Water-feed means for clothes steaming and pressing apparatus



Feb. 3 1925.

w. GQLDMAN WATER FEED MEANS EOR CLOTHES STEAMING AND PRESSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 3. 1925.

@525,289 W, GOLDMAN WATER FEED MEANS FOR CLOTHES STEAMING AND PRESSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1924 Feb. 3. 1925.

W. GOLDMAN WATER FEED MEANS ROR CLOTHES STEAMING AND PREssING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb, 3, 19225,

WILLIAM GOLDMAN, OF :aia-OORLY'N, NW YORK.

Abiaieaaon fue'a January 31, 1924. serial No. 689,833.

To f/ZZ ytlf/[Om t muy concern.'

Be it 'known that I, YVVrLL'iAM GOLDMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the l'iorough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of ANew York, have invented 'certain new and useful Improvements in TWater-Feed Means for Clothes Steaming'aiid Pressing Apparatus, of which the 'followingv is 'a specilicatioh, 'sui'iicientto enable others skilled 'in the art to -which the invention appertains to utilize the same.

My 'present intention is suppl'ementaiy to that set forth in my `concurrent application Serial No. SSalS, filed February 7th, 1922 and like that relates to new andradva'ntageous method of, and :means for, feeding water to the steam generators used in conjunction with clothes steaming and pressing apparatus, whereby the operation may be accomplished in a manner substantially automatic with a saving in both time and labor, and also much more effectively and economically as to results, as compared with the prior state of the art. Heretofore 'the feed water has been pumped into the steam generators of such clothes pressing appara-tus by hand, in a way both crude and unsatisfactory, Owing to the time vand labor involved, and to the fact that suchfeed replacement water was fed ina relatively cold condition into said generator, thereby retarding and delaying the operativeness of the apparatus, considered in a unitary sense, and impairing its utility and output, whereas by my improvements I am enabled to render the available 'operativeness of the pressing'ai'id steaming mechanism essentially continuous and uniform in character.

Hence, my present invention consists in the'speciic vcombination and arrangement of devices andv appurtenances hereinafter described and claimed, whereby the water feed is rendered positively automatic by electrical means in conjunction with water level floatcontrolled switch mechanism substantially as set forth,-`a distinctive feature being the utilization of an electric motor for the purpose of actuating the valves of the feed water system, thereby eliminating the necessity foi" manual control, 'and rendering 'the water feed operation vpractically intermittingly 'continuous 'as 'long as 'the apparatus is used.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 exemplify' a Apractica-l embodiment of the essen" tial features of my invention, although I'do not limit myself to the identical construction matic, illustrating a? practical embodiment of my "invention as 'related'to the steam generator of a cloth moistening and pressing apparatus of wellkn'own type lin the art, said steaming and pressing means being indicated fby ldotted lines,

Fig. 2, is an elevation of my feed water tank and appurtenances, the pipes connecting it with the steam'generator being broken away in part; Y A y,

Fig. 3, is a central verticalsectionof'said feed water tank, taken at right angles to Fig. 2, showing the adjunctive parts in sectional elevation;

Fig. 4, is a top view of the feed tank and connections;

Fig. 5, is `an 'elevation of one of the 'feed valves, -showing the stem, etc., in partial section;

Fig. 6, is a sectional detail of the means for actuating the coupling Vbar by which the valves are simultaneously opened and closed, ashereinafter set forth;

Fig. 7, is a sectional'elevation showing in detail the float lmechanism for controlling the valve actuating electric motor current;

Fig. 8, isa section taken upon vplane of 'line 8-8, Fig. 7';

Fig. 9, is va diagrammatic representation of the .electric motor circuit `by which the feed Ivalves are actuated In Fig. l, the cloth steaming and pressing apparatus is indicated by the 'dotted lines A, the same-*being connected :up in the usual `manner with a steam generator boiler B',

and the said apparatus and 'boiler functioning conjunctively in 'a manner heretofore` well` known in the prir state 'of 'the art.

The boiler B, is provided at its `lower extremity with fpow'erfl'heating y'ele'.ln'ient H, of any 'usual or appropriate ft:'l'iarac'iter, adapted to generate 'steam Iraridly, which steam is n'supplied to' the c andpessing apparatus t rough the Asteaming usual pipe connections a, a. l-leretofore the feed water for the boiler B, has been pumped into the lower portion of said boiler B, through the pipe a', a T connection a2, being provided for the pipe leading to the pump mechanism and a check valve (o3, being also provided in said pipe a, to protect the pressing apparatus A, against back pressure.

The boiler B, is provided with the usual water gauge t, and pressure indicator 7X, and is connected with the feed watertank F, through the medium of an upper pipe c, and a lower pipe c, the latter being provided with a check valve c, as shown in Fig l, and connnunicating with a stand pipe f, which in turn communicates with the lower portion of said feed water tank F, through the medium of the valve f2. In a similar manner the upper feed pipe c, communicates with the upper part of the feed water tank F, through the medium of a valve f', as will be understood more particularly by reference to Fig. 3, of the drawings, by reference to which it will also be seen that an auxiliary 1lay-pass pipe d, connects the upper pipe c, (indirectly through the stand pipe 7") with the lower pipe c,-said auxiliary bypass pipe (Z, functioning` as a heating means upon occasion, for the feed water introduced into the tank F, as hereinafter set forth. Said auxiliary heating pipe el, is provided with a valve CZ', by means of which communication therethrough may be opened, closed or regulated.

n, .is a nozzle projecting into the upper part of the tank F, for the introduction thereinto of fresh water, said nozzle n, being the termination of the feed and of the water pipe n', which is connected with any suitable source of water supply under pressure may be found most expedient according to circumstances of installation of the plant, considered in a unitary sense. The nozzle n. has a constricted discharge, so as to spray the water supply as introduced into the upper portion of the tank F, in such manner as to facilitate the condensation of any steam that may be present therein, and also to o bviate the knocking noise incidental to the introduction of cold water into the tank, which is relatively hot under normal conditions of use.

The check valve c, introduced in the lower pipe c, between the boiler B, and the feed water heater tank F, prevents back pressure during the feed to the boiler B and the latter is provided with a pet cock f, communicating with the upper portion thereof as shown particularly in Fig. 3, for the relief of internal pressure or tension upon occasion, as the case may be.

The valves 7', and f2, are actuated and eontrolled simultaneously through themedium of a common coupling bar e, with which their stems are connected as hereinafter set forth. This coupling rod c, extends vertically in parallelism with the vertical axis of the tank l", as seen in Figs. l and 2, and is supported inedially on a screw stud w, rigidly affixed to the side of the tank F, as shown in Fig. 2, and in detail in Fig. 6, by reference to which latter it will be seen that said screw s, engages with a rotatable nut t', provided with a gear wheel z", and that the said coupling bar c, is held and positioned on said rotatable nut z', by and between an annular shoulder 2, and ajam nu-t 3, thereon, as shown in detail in the aforesaid Fig. 6, of the drawings. As a result, it is obvious that, as the nut is rotated on the said stae tienary screw s, the coupling bar e, will be advanced or retracted with relation to the tank F, thereby opening or closing the valves f', f2, as the case may loe. In Figs. l, 2, 4 and 6, of the drawings, the couplingloarc, is shown in retracted position, in which the valves f, f2, are closed. g, g, are guide posts protuberant from the adjacent side of the tank, which guide posts extend through holes formed for the purpose in the coupling bar c, and thereby maintain the alignment and contrilnite to the support of said coupling bar. They also afford means for the provision of shoulders g, g2, which limit and prescribe the extent of movement of said coupling bar e. j, j, are balance springs which tend to steady the ends of the coupling bar e, and to hold the latter against the stops g2, representing the closed position of the valves f", f2.

F 5, shows in detail the connection between the valve stems of the valves f', f2, and the couplingbar e, the same being identical for each. That is to say, the outer end of the stem fx, of each valve is screw threaded and extends through a hole c', made for the purpose in the coupling bar c, and is capped by a nut f3, which forms the outer bearing against said coupling bar e, the bearing on the other or inner side thereof being afforded by a spring f4, interposed between said coupling bar e, and an adjustable collar on said threaded portion of the valve stem fXf-this construction holding the parts involved in operative relationship, and providing means for compensation of wear, etc.

The coupling bar c, is also connected positively with the stem n2, of the valve n3, which is interposed inthe feed water supply pipe n, the latter being positioned on the side of said coupling bar e, opposite to that on which the aforesaid valves f', f2, are situated, so that when the said valves f', f2, are open the water supply valve n3, is closed', and vice versa, as the case may be,-all three of said valves being actuated simultaneously through the medium of the rotatable nut z', and the coupling bar e, common to all. Hence, the feed water supply through the rsaaese pipe n', and nozzle n, to the tank F, is shut oit while the latter is replenishing' the boiler B, with pre-heated waiter to maintain-approximately the prescribed operative water level therein and conversely, when the valves f', f, are closed the valve n3, is open and supplies fresh water to the tank iff-the latter being filled, and maintained so under normal conditions. To effect the pre-heating of the feed water in the tank F, the valve d', is opened, admitting live steam from the boiler B, to and through t-he radiator pipe (Z.

rlhe foregoing description, both as relates to construction and operation of parts and appurtenances, is identical with that of our aforesaid concurrent application Serial No. 534,818, excepting that in the present case the gear a", is substituted for the crank arm on the rotatable nut r,-the distinctive fea ture ofmy present invention being-the actuation of the coupling bar c, automatically through the medium of an electric motor, the operation of which is contr'olled by means of a tioatL, governed by the water level in the boiler B,-a gear m, on the motor shaft meshing with the gear z", on the rotatable nut z', andthe contactual surfaces of bothgears being of suflicient extent to compensateffor the movement of the nut gear z", upon and as related to the gear m, ofthe motor M which latter is fixed in position. Thus,obvionsly, the advance or retraction of the couplingrbar e, will` depend on the direction of rotation of the motor shaft.

Obviously the electric switch actuating float L, might be positioned in the boiler B, and provided with extraneous connections, but l prefer to install Yit within an exterior cylindrical chamber B', which may communicate with the. interior of the boiler B, through the medium of a pipe 7)', connected with the water gauge I), as indicated more particularly in Figs. l and 7 of the drawings so that the water level, in said float chamber B', will correspond with that in the boiler B, and gauge b.

The float L, is provided with a toothed rack Z, for engagement with apinion i, affixed to a rock shaft 1"', mounted in bearings b2, b2, in the side walls of the float chamber B', as shown more particularly in Fig. 8, of the drawings. This rock shaft 1"', has rigidly att-ached vto one of its outer extremities a rocker arm r2, which is. connected with a duplicate thrust knife plate switch S, of a standard type, the terminals s, s, which are connected with the main or power line wires p, p, and with the electric motor circuit m', m', in a manner well known in the art. Hence, when the water in the boiler falls below a prescribed level the sinking of the float L, will cause the rack Z, to rotate the pinion r, suciently to make the arm r2, close the switch S, in such manner as to rotate the motor M, in adirection to etl'ect the retraction of the coupling bar c, thereby closing the supply valve n3, to the tank F, and opening the said valves f', f2, to the boiler B. rlhe raising of the normal water level to that prescribed causes the float L,

vto reverse this actionthrough the medium From the foregoing it will be seen that l n attain an absolute automatic feed system for the boiler of a cloth steaming and pressing apparatus which `is simple, positive and safe, and in which the necessity for manual labor or supervision is eliminated, in that even possible failure or disarrangement of the float mechanism and electric switch could not result disastrously, since the valve coupling bar' itself acts as a safety switch to limit the extent of rotative motion of the electric motor in either direction.

llVhat l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent is l. A water feeding device for connection with a cloth steaming and pressing apparatus, comprising'a boiler, a water tank, pipes connectingthe top and bottom portions of said boiler and tank. a valve in each o-f said pipes` a water supply pipe connecting with said tank, a valve in said water supply pipe, and means for simultaneously operating'said valves consisting` of a coupling bar connected therewith, an electric motor for actuating said coupling bar, and a float 'governed by the water level in the boiler and arranged to cont-rol the electric circuit in which said electric motor is interposed, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. A water feeding device for connection with a cloth steaming and pressing apparatus, comprising a boiler, a water tank, pipes connecting the top and bottom portions of said boiler and tank, a valve in each of said pipes, a water supply pipe connected with said tank, a valve in said water supply pipe, and float-controlled electricalA means for simultaneously opening and closing said valves, substantially in the manner and Jfor the purpose set forth.

3. A water feedingdevice for connection with a cloth steaming and pressing apparatus, comprising a boiler, a Water tank, pipes connecting the top and bottom pontions of said boiler and tank, a. valve in each of said pipes, a water supply pipe connected with said tank, a valve in said Water supply pipe means for simultaneously operating said valves, consisting of a coupling bar connected therewith, a travelling nut connected With said coupling bar, a gear on said travelling' nut, an electric motor having,` a gear meshing 'with said gear on the travelling' nut, and float means controlled by the Water level in the boiler and controlling' the electric current in which the motor is interposed, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

4. A Water feeding' device for connection with a cloth steamingl and pressing apparatus, comprising' a boiler, a water tank, pipes connecting the top and bottom portions of said boiler and tank, a valve in each of said pipes, a water supply pipe connected with said tank, a valve` in said Water supply pipe. means for simultaneously operating` said valves consisting of a coupling bar whereby the main Water supply to the tank is shut oif When the valves to the boiler are` open and vice versa, an electric motor arranged to actuate said coupling bar, and a float controlled by the Water level in the boiler and governing the electric current in which said motor is interposed, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

5. it water feeding device for connection with a cloth steaming' and pressing apparatus, comprising a boiler, a Water tank. pipes connecting the top and bottom portions of reid lfoiier and tank. a valve in each of said pipes, a Water supply pipe connected with said tank, a valve in said Water supply pipe. means for simultaneously operating1 said valves consisting' of a coupling' bar whereby the main Water supply to the tank is shut off When the said valves `to the boiler are open, and vice versa, an electric motor arranged to actuate said coupling bar, a Heat controlled by the Water level in the boiler', a rack mounted on said float, a pinion meshing' with said rack. and switch mechanism connected With said pinion and controlling; the electric circuit in Which the motor is interposed, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

6. water feedino device for connection with a cloth steaming` and pressing apparatus, comprising a boiler, a Water tank, pipes connecting' the top and bottom portions of said boiler and tank, a valve in each of said pipes, a Water supply pipe connected with said tank, a valve in said Water supply pipe, means for simultaneously operating said valves, consisting of a coupling,- bar whereby the main Water supply to the tank is shut oii'' when the said valves to the boiler are open, and vice versa, an electric motor arranged to actuate said coupling bar, a float chamber connected with the boiler, a 'lioat therein actuated by the Water level in the boiler. a rack mounted on said float, a pinion meshing' Wit-h said rack, and switch mechanism connected with said pinion and controlling' the electric circuit in Which the motor is interposedv` substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

7. A Water feeding device for connection With a cloth steaming,r and pressing apparatus, comprising a boiler, a Water tank, pipes connecting the top and bottom portions of said boiler and tank, a valve in each of said pipes, a Water supply pipe connecte-d with said tank, a valve in said Water supply pipe, means for simultaneously operating said valves, consisting of a coupling bar whereby the main Water supply to the tank is shut off when the said valves to the boiler are open, and vice versa, an electric motor arranged to ac-tuate said coupling har, a float controlled by the Water level in the boiler and governinge,` the electric circuit in Which said motor is interposed, and electric circuit opening,` devices on said coupling bar for prescribing` the extent of motion in either direction, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM GOLDMAN. l/Vitnesses MATHrLDA STEUERNAGEL, Gmo. WM. MIATT. 

